49ers now on a 4-game skid after midweek loss, weekend sweep

After coming off a midweek loss to N.C. State, the Charlotte 49ers baseball team was unable to collect a win this weekend, getting swept in their three-game series against Georgia.

Game 1: Georgia 12, Charlotte 2

Georgia got off to a hot start with left fielder Keegan McGovern hitting his third home run of the season in the bottom of the first to put the Bulldogs on the board first. The Bulldog offense continued with Georgia scoring four more runs in the second inning with three of those coming from consecutive bases-loaded singles.

The Bulldogs kept the offence rolling in the third inning with right fielder Tucker Bradley hitting a three-run home run and second baseman L.J. Talley slamming a two-run home run down right field. In all, Georgia scored 10 runs off Charlotte pitcher Matt Brooks, who had allowed only two runs in his previous start.

Charlotte finally got on the board in the fifth inning with pinch-hitter Jake Whitcomb hitting a line drive down right field in his first collegiate at bat of the year. Tommy Bullock then hit a single down left field before Jackson Mims knocked a line drive down the middle to drive in Whitcomb.

Georgia would get the run back in fifth off a Charlotte error. Both teams would trade runs in the seventh to create the final score of 12-2.

Game 2: Georgia 6, Charlotte 4

Charlotte started hot in the first inning as junior Tommy Bullock hit a double down left field. Harris Yett’s single down to third base brought Bullock home after a throwing error by the Bulldogs.

Georgia came back in the second to take a 2-1 lead. Ivan Johnson hit a double down left field, which resulted in an error by the 49ers. Austin Biggar then hit an RBI single down the middle to put the Bulldogs up by one.

The lead would go right back to the Niners in the third inning. Todd Elwood drew a lead-off walk and then later scored off a double by junior Reece Hampton. Mims hit a shot to center field, scoring a run to give Charlotte a 4-2 lead. Georgia cut the deficit to one in the fifth off a Charlotte error after an infield single by Michael Curry.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the eighth inning, scoring three runs to give the Bulldogs a two-run lead. Georgia mounted the comeback off with lead-off walks to McGovern and Cam Shepherd before Curry would hit a double down left to put the Bulldogs up by one. A fielders choice by Georgia would account for the final run of the game.

Game 3: Georgia 10, Charlotte 7

Due to the threat of incoming weather on Sunday, Game 3 was played on Saturday as part of a double header.

With the bases loaded, Bulldogs Aaron Schunk hit a double down right-center field to give the Bulldogs a three-run lead in the first. A Charlotte error, bunt single and sacrifice fly allowed Georgia to score two runs in the second. Another sac fly by the Bulldogs in the third inning allowed Georgia a 6-0 lead.

Charlotte finally got on the board in the fourth by a single from Yett down center field to give the Niners their first run of the night. Georgia got the run back in the fourth off a home run by McGovern.

The Niners added another run in the fifth off a sac fly by Mims before Bulldog McGovern slammed a two-run home run in the sixth to give Georgia a 9-2 lead. In the seventh inning, Charlotte cut the lead down to three off a Drew Ober double and a Zack Smith single. McGovern hit another home run in the eighth to extend Georgia’s lead by four.

The last time the 49ers were swept on the road was back in May of 2015 at Southern Miss. Charlotte will hit the road again and travel down to Charleston Southern on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.